Black Teacher Appreciation Day
MAY 8, 2025: A DAY OF ACTION TO CELEBRATE BLACK TEACHERS BECAUSE #WENEEDBLACKTEACHERS
Since the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision made state-sanctioned segregation in public schools unconstitutional, Black teachers have faced widespread dismissal, hiring discrimination, and workplace marginalization. Despite these systemic barriers, Black teachers have persevered and continued to inspire generations of students. Established by the Center for Black Educator Development as part of its #WeNeedBlackTeachers campaign, Black Teacher Appreciation Day is a day of action that aims to celebrate Black teachers and raise awareness of the need for more Black teachers in schools as catalysts for change, guiding the next generation. Today, we honor their resilience, commitment, and transformative impact on education and young people.
This year’s theme – Radical Well-Being – acknowledges the humanity and resilience of Black teachers, especially in this new and changing political climate, and the importance of self-care and support in the plight of educational justice. Black teachers deserve to find balance and support that meets their mental, emotional and physical needs so they can show up fully in this #WeNeedBlackTeachers movement to transform classrooms and elevate students’ minds.
As we grow the Black Teacher Pipeline, it also is time to reintroduce Black teaching traditions, techniques, and systems to all educators.
How To Join Black Teacher Appreciation Day
We need everyone—students, families, educators, and advocates—to take action and show appreciation for Black teachers on May 8, 2025.
Here’s how you can participate in Black Teacher Appreciation Day 2025:
- Shout Out a Black Teacher – Take a moment to publicly recognize a Black teacher who has impacted your life. Share your appreciation on social media using #ThankABlackTeacher and #WeNeedBlackTeachers.
- Share Your Story – Have a Black teacher who changed your life? Post a video, write a tribute, or create a reel highlighting their influence and how they made a difference.
- Join the Movement – Learn how to support Black educators by advocating for policies that strengthen the Black teacher pipeline. Sign up for updates and resources from our website.
- Engage in the Conversation – Follow and participate in discussions on social media, repost impactful stories and engage with organizations dedicated to Black teacher empowerment.
Celebrate Black Teacher Appreciation Day Online
Use our social media toolkit to help spread the word about Black Teacher Appreciation Day on May 8, 2025!
Tag and follow: @centerblacked on all of our social media channels!
Main hashtag: #ThankABlackTeacher
#WeNeedBlackTeachers
#RadicalWellbeing
JOIN OUR WEBINAR
On Thursday, May 8, 2025, the Center for Black Educator Development (CBED) will recognize Black Teacher Appreciation Day with a “Building a Diverse Teacher Pipeline“ Webinar.
Educators, funders, and policy leaders, including CBED’s own Ansharaye Hines, assistant director of career and technical education (CTE) and curriculum, Dr. AB Spence, training and implementation program manager at CBED, and Howard University student Jahmere Jackson, will join for a dynamic conversation on the importance of recruiting and retaining diverse educators. Today only 7% of U.S. teachers identify as Black, while Black students make up over 15% of the K-12 population. Research shows that the presence of Black teachers in schools contrubutes to more inclusive and supportive learning environments – Black students who have had Black teachers are 38% more likely to report feeling that they belong at school.
REGISTER HERE
WHO WE ARE
The National Black Teacher Pipeline Coalition
In 2022, the Center for Black Educator Development spearheaded this coalition to support the development and sustainability of Black teacher pipelines across the country. Coalition members include:
- Black Teacher Collaborative
- Black Teacher Project
- Education PowerED
- Healing Schools Project
- Real Men Teach
- United Negro College Fund (UNCF)
To learn more, please contact Mimi Woldeyohannes.